Pioneers Podcast

I wanted to talk about something I have encountered many, many times throughout my career: the end of creative partnerships. In general, saying goodbye is just a part of life in the entertainment industry (and really, a part of life in general). 99% of relationships are finite (especially in music), and I talk about the […] The post Episode 81: Burning Bridges first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

7 Principles on how to build a team.   1. Resume' and skill is an entry point only 2. Choose based on shared passion 3. Loyalty is a must 4. Build incentives for performance 5. Remain thankful and considerate 6. Recognize, don't just reward 7. Don't be a control freak The post Episode 79: Schwabisms – How to Build a Team first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Seven principles to live by: 1. Take a step away 2. Competition is your friend 3. When in doubt, follow your heart 4. Please yourself first when it comes to your work 5. When in doubt, consult the past 6. Dig past the obvious 7. Choose the right heroes These short episodes are meant to […] The post Episode 77: Schwabisms #3 first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Matt Jameson is a self-taught digital animator who works with Facebook, Google, Apple, and many others. HE IS GREAT AT WHAT HE DOES. Matt and I discuss how he started his career, plus how he has been able to transition from working as a part of a firm to 100% freelance. It's no accident that […] The post Episode 76: Digital Animation with Matt Jameson first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Reese Roper is a great frontman, lyricist, and dude. He is also one fo the funniest people I have ever spoken to in my life. We had a blast catching up, telling stories, and talking about learning how to pivot when the “genre’s” which defined our bands came and went. This is a completely unscripted […] The post Episode 75: Reese Roper of Five Iron Frenzy first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Gothix is a youtube content creator who has not shied away from the hot-button issues of our age.  In fact, she is very courageous in speaking about identity politics, cancel culture, and more.  I really admire her ability to effectively communicate her ideas with fact-based rhetoric and critical thought.  We delve into her journey as […] The post Episode 74: Gothix first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Seven ways to not be stupid. Yes, I’m still stuck on Idiocracy (see: Episode 71). For your fridge/desk/wallpaper: 1. Act like a drone, not a clone 2. Diversify/give yourself an exit strategy 3. Play the tape all the way through 4. Treat sources, not symptoms 5. When people show you who they are, believe them […] The post Episode 72: Schwabisms – How to Not be Stupid first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Mike Judge (Office Space, Beavis and Butthead) made a film which was released in 2006 about a dystopian future future where everyone is stupid. 20th Century Fox subsequently squashed its release primarily because they didn’t know how to market a very intelligent satire that was posing as a very dumb comedy. I feel gross when […] The post Episode 71: Idiocracy first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

What does it take to stand out? What does it take to be respected and remembered? What does it take to develop a reputation that will result in others seeking you out for help, answers, and solutions? Here is a list of ten (10) principles the help set you apart from others. If you will […] The post Episode 70: How to Rise Above the Noise first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Kail Letkemann is a subscriber to Pioneers on Patreon! He has built a very respectable following on Instagram for literary reviews, and has transferred that audience over to his podcast as well. We discuss BOOKS in this first segment…then in the PRIVATE segment we discuss 1984 and how WE ARE LIVING INSIDE THIS BOOK TODAY. […] The post Episode 69: Kail Letkemann first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Lono, first and foremost, is an excellent content creator in the gaming space. He’s also a great dude. Lono has developed a very large platform as a streamer, and is a very influential voice in the gaming community. In this segment we discuss the video games that influenced us over the years, including old-school arcade […] The post Episode 68: Gaming with Lono of SayNoToRage first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

I was on the phone with my good friend Josh a few days ago, and we started discussing a few things that I thought would make a good episode. So, I stopped the conversation and we agreed to have it on record, for posterity, for all of you. The first segment of this episode is […] The post Episode 66: Wu-Tang and How to Exist in Our Insane World with Josh Hagquist first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Andy Atkins is a funny dude. For years he fronted the band A Plea for Purging, whose blend of comedy and metal was very unique. More recently, Andy built a very successful career in stage design until the pandemic hit. Nowadays he has a Youtube channel for motorbike design and repair. Always a ton of […] The post Episode 65: Andy Atkins of A Plea for Purging first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

I recently finished the book I had been reading titled DISNEYWAR and found it to be so captivating/relevant that I wanted to dedicate a podcast episode to it. The book chronicles the goings-on behind the corporate veil of all things in the life of the highest level of management at Disney from 1984-2004, which was […] The post Episode 63: Disneywar first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Focus, for me, is a daily fight.  I have so many irons in the fire that each day I have to be very intentional about which ones to prioritize.  This episode gives some principles, tips, and experiences which have helped me focus better.  Lots of meat here that can apply to any work/career environment.  Subscribe […] The post Episode 62: Focus first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Adam Stephenson is an actor, screenwriter, producer, and acting coach.  He is best known for his roles in Mr. Mercedes, The Purge, Thirteen Reasons Why, Geostorm, Evan’s Crime, and Huevos Rancheros (For which he received a Best Actor Nomination at the Windy City Film Festival).  I am so stoked on this episode, as he shares […] The post Episode 60: Actor and Screenwriter Adam Stephenson first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

YOU can flip the script on a bad memory or haunted place by confronting your fear and revisiting it.  This is a major thing creatives deal with and a topic I have been obsessed with for some time….how do you take a mistake, crisis, or failure and flip the script on it?  More importantly how […] The post Episode 59: Revisiting Haunted Places first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Steve Cobucci is a great dude.  He and I share a ton of laughs and insights as fellow frontmen and members of touring bands.  The thing I love about this conversation is that 58 episodes in we are still forging new paths.   Love it…hope you enjoy! Subscribe to Pioneers Podcast on Patreon and get access […] The post Episode 58: Steve Cobucci from Wolves at the Gate first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Josh Horton is the founder of Creative Works conference in Memphis, Tennessee.  Started in 2014, he has watched his event grow like crazy from year-to-year.  But like so many others, his entire career has been turned upside-down by the current global situation.  This is an episode about finding hope amidst uncertainty, and is filled with […] The post Episode 57: Creative Connections with Josh Horton first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

The fact is, there are many reasons why the need arises to move in a new direction. If you are human, the chances are almost 100% that you will need to reassess your direction at some point. For many of us, this need arises to to changing life circumstance. For others, this need arises because […] The post Episode 56: How to Reinvent Yourself first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

In the latest Patron-chosen content episode, I take a look at all the Star Wars films in the Skywalker Saga from a creative perspective. More specifically, I try to step into the shoes of the writers and directors. Each of the trilogies are covered separately, as well as the individual films. The post Episode 54: Star Wars? Yes, Star Wars. first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Danny plays bass in a band called Paper tongues.  He also is a songwriter and producer, as well as co-owner of the clothing company MADI Apparel.  Oh yeah, he also toured with P86 for a brief stint.  We share laughs, talk major label life, his appearance on Jimmy Fallon, his clothing company and much more. […]

From a content standpoint, I have purposely avoided the culture wars swirling around us. This is particularly because I want Pioneers to function as a breather from all the intensely difficult issues we seem to be constantly bombarded with from every angle in recent history. With the election upon us, I felt like it was […]

Andy Lara is a podcast producer, video director, and creative director.  He has worked on a number of very successful podcasts, and is a great example of someone who has used his experience in numerous different fields to create his own business using his many talents. We discuss his journey, and I ask many questions […]

A look at dystopian influences on lyrics and a comparison to the current global landscape.

Is the world ending? Why is this all happening? Should I stop reading books about pandemics? Are we living in The Stand?

Darren King is a super talented dude. He’s an amazing guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. Oh yeah, and he’s been in the P86 fold for seven years now. He’s also a super nerd when it comes to all sorts of gear. In this episode we talk everything from headphones to turntables to software-from both a […]

Abandoned songs! Tattoos! Mayhem!

I talk about the 100 records I am collecting on vinyl. These are the records that changed my life. This is probably the most important episode I will ever record.

Many times you think you are a genius and the piece of work you just created is going to change the world.  Sometimes, though, you are totally wrong.  This is a discussion about cutting and killing your precious work when it just isn’t right, good enough, or worthy of release.  

Josh Hagquist has played guitar for P86 since 2011.  He also founded and fronts his band, The Beautiful Mistake.  Josh is a really good friend, and it took me way too long to have him on.  He is articulate, hilarious, super kind, and very knowledgable about music.  We begin with a story about the time […]

How does perception influence the success of your favorite artists?  I look at the strategy of creating an impression in people’s minds, and how closely this is tied to reaching career goals, specifically in music.  I look at a few artists I love and why their perception has enhanced their journeys.

Beau Burchell is the founder and guitarist of the band Saosin.  He is also a prolific record producer who has worked with Senses Fail, The Bronx, and many others.  It is a true, personal treat to speak with him regarding his career as both a guitarist and band founder, as well as a record producer. […]

Tobin Bawinkel fronts the Celtic punk band Flatfoot 56, has a side project called 6’10,” runs Ollie Mob (A community fan club for his 56 supporters), and has various other endeavors in addition to being a husband and father.  He is a close personal friend, and we talk regularly about how to “crack the code” […]

A look at the inspiration and motivation behind “Ghosts of Easter Rising,” “Sad Machines,” “In Trenches,” “Above the Desert Sea,” and “Sincerely, Ichabod.”

As requested by Patreon subscribers, I give insights into multiple P86 jams spanning the band’s catalogue. This is the first part of a two-part episode which will cover a good dose of my band’s songs. The juicier ones are in the subscriber-only segments, so please consider contributing to the podcast on the Patreon for Pioneers! […] The post Episode 31: P86 Jams, Part Uno first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

This is something I have wanted to do for a long time, namely delve into the film industry with someone who actually works in it!  Sure, I have worked on music videos with some “names” but never in this capacity.  Josh and I connected when he hired me to illustrate/design his film poster, and this […] The post Episode 30: Independent Filmmaking with Josh Pierson first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Where do we draw the line between inspiration and intellectual infringement in creative work?  We all have heroes and artists who inspire us, but how do we develop our own voices without creating derivative work?  I look at 3 contemporary examples when the line was crossed in famous intellectual property court cases from the music […] The post Episode 29: Influence vs. Imitation first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Neph Trejo came across my path five years ago when he shot photos for Project 86 just after we finished our album Knives to the Future.  I reconnected with him recently and discovered he was a Senior Art Director for Disney.  The guy is a baller, and an all-around good guy.  Neph has worked for […] The post Episode 27: The Magic Kingdom with Photographer/Art Director Neph Trejo first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Broad strokes on using social media effectively in the scope of artistry, content creation, and communication.  I discuss three vital concepts anyone can apply to their social media endeavors to better engage audiences.  A very important topic if you are trying to tell your story to the world! Subscribe via the Pioneers Patreon page and […] The post Episode 26: Social Media for Innovators first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Ryan has had many different types of songwriting experiences, as you will come to understand from this episode…he has functioned as the sole writer of every instrument in his own band, and he has also worked extensively in more of a collaborative environment. He has experienced success in multiple incarnations of his own band as […] The post Episode 25: Songwriting Insights from Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Salem Barker is a full-time sculptor who is self-taught and who has an an amazing story. Over the course of his thirteen-year career he has battled his way through every obstacle to perfect his craft and reach a point where he is a full-time creator who provides for his family and embodies a unique place […] The post Episode 23: Side Hustles, Part 3, with Sculptor Salem Barker first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

We have some great questions this time around. How do you know when a piece of work is finished? How do you order tracks on an album and name it? What are my favorite and least favorite parts of heavy music? I also discuss “The Spy Hunter” and “My Will Be a Dead Man” videos, […] The post Episode 22: Subscriber Questions first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Caleb “Bones” Owens has had an interesting journey in the music industry. We were labelmates in the late 2000’s when his band, The Becoming, opened for P86. He has since written songs with Bon Jovi, played guitar with Yellawolf, launched a successful clothing brand, and is now buzzing as a solo artist. We talk determination […] The post Episode 21: Thoughts on Determination with Bones Owens first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Is it a long-held belief of mine that times of trial and tribulation produce great creative works. In this episode, I take a look at the connection of pain and art, and how darker leaning art can actually serve to heal us (both as a consumer and creative) when we are in a difficult place. […] The post Episode 20: The Art of Pain first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Dustin and I discuss how he stays inspired as a creative on a daily basis from a ritual and routine standpoint.  We talk songwriting, books, and tips to stay in the proper mindset for optimum output. This was a unique episode because we actually recorded in person at Dustin’s house in Irvine, California. He makes […] The post Episode 19: Ritual Inspo, Belief, and Art with Dustin Kensrue first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Do you have a book project you are trying to find the motivation to start or finish? Are you an aspiring writer who wants to improve?  I share some tips, tricks, and insights from my own experience writing seven books. For deeper insight and more practical advice, consider subscribing to the Podcast via Patreon and […] The post Episode 18: Side Hustles, Part II-How to Write a Book first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

My guest for Episode 16 is one of my favorite digital illustrators on the entire planet, none other than Luke Preece from the UK.  Luke in addition to being a creative director for a well-known gaming company, has developed a successful illustratio career as a side hustle.  Luke has worked with Metallica, Marvel, Lucas Film, […] The post Episode 16: Side Hustles, Part I with Illustrator Luke Preece first appeared on Andrew Schwab.

Aaron Sprinkle is one of the most talented, prolific producers in rock music over the last two decades plus, having worked with Eisley, New found Glory, Demon Hunter, Abberlin, MxPx, Acceptance, and The Almost, among many others.  In this episode, Aaron discusses the inception of his creative journey and how he built his production career, […] The post Episode 15: Genius Requires Pain with Producer Aaron Sprinkle first appeared on Andrew Schwab.